What is Stem Cell Research?

Stem cells are the key ingredient needed to form every tissue in the human body. These cells represent the first stage of this process: they can copy themselves over and over and they are able to mature into different types of cells.

There are two basic types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Imagine embryonic stem cells as seeds that can give rise to an entire tree. Imagine adult stem cells as specialized cells that could only produce a certain part of the tree such as the leaves or the bark.

Embryonic stem cells, derived from immature cells of an embryo, can give rise to any type of cell in the body.

There are many examples of adult stem cells, which are found in the body after birth and produce cells particular to the organ or tissue in which they are found.

In recent years, scientists also have found ways to develop embryonic-stem-cell-like cells from adult cells. Such cells are called induced pluripotent stem cells.

Most Commonly Used Terms

Adult stem cell: a cell found in the different tissues of the body – such as blood, skin or muscle – that can renew itself and produce the specialized cells needed by that tissue (known as multipotency).

Cloning: a process for creating a genetically identical copy of a cell or an organism.

Differentiation: the process by which an unspecialized cell changes into a more organized or complex cell that performs a certain function, such as an insulin-producing beta cell.

Embryonic stem cell: an unspecialized cell in an embryo that can divide indefinitely (self renew) and produce any cell in the body needed after birth (known as pluripotency).